NAHC Recognizes Industry Leaders, Advocates at Annual Conference

Updated Oct. 27 at 7:37 Eastern time to include additional quotes from Bill Tauzin.

ST. LOUIS (October 25, 2022)—The National Association for Home Health & Hospice (NAHC) took some time from the annual conference to recognize the contributions of staff and industry advocate.

Andrea Devoti, NAHC executive vice president, has announced her retirement. Devoti, who served as Chair of the NAHC Board in years past, received an award for her enormous contributions to NAHC and the entire industry. In a press release, NAHC said that Devoti has been a pleasure and inspiration to work with and her colleagues at NAHC will treasure every remaining day with her as part of the team.

On Monday, NAHC took a moment to induct Bill Musick, founder of Integriti3D, a hospice and palliative care management firm, to the Home Health Financial Management Association Hall of Fame. 

Also on Monday, NAHC awarded the Val J. Halmandaris Award for Caring, Innovation, and Inspiration to former Louisiana Representative William “Billy” Tauzin. Tauzin has always been a staunch advocate for homecare, Dombi said. 

“Picture him on a table stomping his feet shouting ‘Over my dead body’” when Congress was considering adding a co-payment to home health services, NAHC President and CEO Willam A. Dombi said. That co-pay was not applied to the home health benefit. 

Tauzin spoke emotionally about attending a home care visit to the home of an elderly man in a small town in Louisiana and how the man’s gratitude for the care he was receiving persuaded Tauzin of the value of care in the home.

Tauzin was eventually diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, a diagnosis so dire his doctors gave him a one percent chance of surviving. Of course, Tauzin did survive and has been fighting to improve health outcomes for Americans ever since. Tearing up, Tauzin urged attendees to keep fighting to expand access to care in the home, vowing to help in any way he can. “With whatever years I have left, I will stick with you! It ain’t over yet.”

New board members were also announced during the conference. They are:

• Sarah Ratcliffe, Executive Director of the Illinois Home Care and Hospice Council, Forum of States position
• Tonya Gray, director, home health care at SwedishAmerican Home Care, Integrated Health System Provider seat
• Jennifer Sheets, president and CEO of Caring Brands International and Interim HealthCare, at-large seat

Former Board Chair Mary Myers, of Johns Hopkins Home Care, is rotating out of her Integrated Health System Provider seat but remains Ex-Officio on the NAHC Board. Rod Windley of Aveanna Healthcare is leaving the Board having completed two highly successful three-year terms.